'I've always had vivid dreams. Frequently, though, they don't make for interesting writing. They remain locked in their own internal logic.'

I've always had vivid dreams. Frequently, though, they don't make for interesting writing. They remain locked in their own internal logic that doesn't always translate. It's like trying to relate a funny incident to someone who wasn't there.

'It is not the original idea that is important, so much as the subsequent sifting process. Is this really a good idea? '

It is not the original idea that is important, so much as the subsequent sifting process. Is this really a good idea? How exactly would it work? And, most importantly of all, has somebody else already had this idea?

'The unwritten play becomes so tantalisingly wonderful, surprising, profound: — why spoil its hypothetical brilliance by encasing it in specific words? '

The unwritten play becomes so tantalisingly wonderful, surprising, profound: — why spoil its hypothetical brilliance by encasing it in specific words? Deadlines are the best motivation ever devised to shift the play from inspiration to first draft.

'Is this how you know that a particular genre of writing is not for you? You consort with it for a while, and then rush of early enthusiasm falters.'

Is this how you know that a particular genre of writing is not for you? You consort with it for a while, and appear to be getting on rather well. The words flow, and you seem to have so much to say. And then rush of early enthusiasm falters.

'For every play performed, script broadcast or book published, there comes another, very public, rejection: the bad review.'

For every play performed, script broadcast or book published, there comes another, very public, rejection: the bad review. A good one can give you a warm feeling for half an hour, but a bad review — that can mess things up for ages.

'That lengthy exile from the world of words not only halted my novel, it made the terrible thing itself so much harder to bear.'

I know there are far worse things than writer's block; a knowledge reinforced by the same terrible events that were causing mine. But that lengthy exile from the world of words not only halted my novel, it made the terrible thing itself so much harder to bear.

'I tried, really I did. I meditated in a prayer circle, attended a book reading, ate an expensive organic breakfast and forced myself to smile. '

I tried, really I did. I meditated in a prayer circle, attended a book reading, ate an expensive organic breakfast and forced myself to smile. But the smugness of the crowd grated. They were all so pleased with themselves.

'When I was on the judging panel for the Man Booker Prize, we had to read around a hundred and twenty novels in three months. '

When I was on the judging panel for the Man Booker Prize, we had to read around a hundred and twenty novels in three months. Enforced concentration made the brain's critical mechanism whirr at an adrenaline-fuelled pace.

'Through journalism, I gravitated to a sort of literary community. A community is supposed to be wholesome thing, but this one was based in the smoky and raucous pubs of Soho. '

Through journalism, I gravitated to a sort of literary community. A community is supposed to be wholesome thing, but this one was based in the smoky and raucous pubs of Soho. All around us were well-known writers.

'The inside of my head; that's where I do my writing, and I really recommend it. It's rent-free, you can decorate it any way you choose and take it anywhere.'

The inside of my head; that's where I do my writing, and I really recommend it. It's rent-free, you can decorate it any way you choose and you can take it anywhere. For me, writing is an internal activity. Hammering the words on a keyboard is secondary.